Picking mechanism for looms for weaving



July 17, 1934. W, BE L A; 1,966,704

PICKING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS FOR WEAVING Filed Dec. 5, 1930 3heets-Shggat 1 k .m m W I 3 .EN v v fly Z4 Inventors July 17, 1934. wBELL r AL 1,966,704

PICKING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS FOR WEAVING Filed Dec. 5, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Q q; N

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PICKING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS FOR WEAVING Filed Dec. 5, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet 5 M m. n fw Patented July 17, 1934 PECKING MECHANISMI FQRLOOMS FOR WEAVING Walter Bell and Howard M. Van Alstyne, litensselaer,N. Y.

Application December 5, 1939, Serial No. 500,265

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to picking mechanism for looms, of thetype in which the picking sticks are actuated by being connected tosuitable actuating devices.

The actuating mechanisms which have been previously used or designed,have used various forms of stored power, such as spring power .orcompressed .air, also have used various forms of gearing, cams etc., andhave been subject to several outstanding defects which render themunsatisfactory from a commercial standpoint.

Some of these unsatisfactory conditions are: Terrific shock in absorbingthe release of stored power, noise and shock of striking cams, alsoinability to impart suflicient momentum to the picking stick toaccomplish proper shuttle delivery.

In our machine we propose to actuate the picking mechanism by using theenergy stored in a rotating mass, such as a rapidly revolving fly wheel,by intermittently and .controllably connecting our mechanism with same.

An object .of this invention is to prevent excessive noise andvibration, due to the fact that s the fly wheel continually revolves atany predetermined speed and that the method of connecting anddisconnecting the picking mechanism to and from this energy source issmooth and easy.

Another object is to provide a means of actuating the picking mechanismat speeds not before possible.

Another object is to provide a mechanism which is simple, rugged anddurable and in which the speed of actuating the picking mechanism can beeasily varied, by varying the speed of the actuating source or flywheel.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention we use a rapidly revolvingfly wheel or wheels, as on a large loom it would be desirable to have afly wheel for each end of the loom, whose plane of revolution issubstantially the same as that of the oscillation of the picker stick.This fly wheel is continuously revolved, during loom operation by anysuitable means and at any suitable speed. Said fly wheel has formedwithin or on it a section of a clutch of any suitable design, whichmates with and drives the other section of the clutch that is embodiedin the picking mechanism. This driven portion of the clutch is moved inand out of engagement with the driving portion, by suitable means,preferably actuated by the lay mechanism of the loom and preferablycontrolled by the pattern mechanism of the loom.

With the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consistsin certain novel features of construction and combinations andarrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinaiter described.

The invention may be better understood from so the following descriptionin-connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of the relevant parts of a loom having theimproved picking motion applied thereto.

Figures 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 201, 2e, 2 and 29 are detailed views of some .ofthe parts of .the clutch control mechanism. Figure 2a shows themechanism in .a neutral or nonpicking position. Figure 2b shows it atthe start of the picking posiv.0 tion and Figure 2c shows it at the endof the picking position.

Figure 3 is a view of the relevant parts of the end of a loom with thepicking mechanism attached, the clutch portion being shown in cross 75section with the clutch control mechanism in a neutral or non-pickingposition with the clutch disengaged.

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 but showing the position ofthe parts with the so clutch control mechanism in picking position andthe clutch forced into engagement.

This picking mechanism is adapted for association with any conventionaltype of loom, only the related parts of the loom being shown, such as 5the picker sticks 10, picker straps 11, lay 12, lay shaft 13, timing rod14, loom frame 15, picker stick spring 16. The complete pickingmechanism hereinafter described consists of a mechanism at each end ofthe loom, identical in con- 90 struction and operation and so connectedby timer rod 14, that when one mechanism is in picking position theother must be in neutral position. These positions and their connectionbeing shown in Figure 1. ihe description which follows is 5 essentiallyof one end only.

The picking mechanism includes a fly wheel 17 which has formed within ita driving section of a friction or other suitable clutch, rotating onshaft 18 and driven by any suitable means; said fly 1 wheel or drivingsection of clutch being held in proper location on shaft 18 by thrustcollars 19 and 20. Shaft 18 is supported by bearings 21 and 22 and isheld rigidly in said bearings by any suitable means such as set screws23. The driven section of the clutch 24 is mounted on shaft 18 so thatit can rotate and slide. The driven section 24 is held in spacedrelation to the driving section 17 by the thrust collar 20, and clutchspring 26 and has rigidly mounted on the 110 end of its hub segments ofannular abutments 2'7. Clutch spring 26 is a helical spring disposedaround shaft 18 and is so formed at each end that said ends project intoholes bored in the face of thrust collar 20 and the inner face of hub ofdriven section of clutch 24.

The clutch control mechanism consists of a timing section 28, timingsection control 29 and compression and torsion spring 30. The timingsection 28 consists of a plate having on one face a hub, in the end ofsaid hub is formed a segment of an annular groove 31, concentric withthe bore of plate 28 and on the opposite face are rigidly fastened orformed two abutments 32. The timing section 28 is 50 mounted on shaft 18that it can oscillate and slide. The timing section control 29 consistsof a collar having rigidly mounted on its rim an arm 33, which isconnected by suitable means with timer rod 14. On one face of collar 29is rigidly mounted a stud 34, which projects into groove 31. Collar 29is so mounted on shaft 18 that it contacts with the hub of plate 28 andcan oscillate and slide. Spring 30 is a helical spring disposed aroundshaft 18 and between thrust collar 25 and timer section 28 and is soformed at each end that said end projects into holes bored in the facesof thrust collar 25 and plate 28. Compression spring 35 is a helicalspring disposed around shaft 18 and between timer control 29 and slidingcompression collar 36. Compression collar 36 is slideably mounted onshaft 18 and has formed on its rim suitable ears or projections to whichare attached by suitable means one end of connecting rod 37. Connectingrod 3'? is so formed as to have linear adjustment and is connected bysuitable means at one end with collar 36 and at the other with rockerarm 38. Rocker arm 38 is rigidly secured to and oscillates with layshaft 13.

As a means of connecting our picking mechanism, in a resilient mannerwith the conventional picking strap and stick, also to impart a movementof accelerating velocity to the picker stick, we rigidly fasten one endof a spring 39, of approximate rectangular cross section to the hub ofthe driven section of clutch 24. This spring 39 is so formed that itspirals outwardly with increasing radius, from the point where fastenedto hub, to its other end or tip and thus forms a winding seat for pickerstrap 11. Said picker strap 11 is securely fastened at one end to spring39 and at its point of smallest radius. The other end of picker strap 11is fastened in the conventional manner to picker stick 10.

As a means of positively positioning the driven section 24 in theneutral position, stop plate 40 is rigidly mounted in any suitablelocation, so that it will register with stop lug 41, which is rigidlymounted on driven section 24 of the clutch.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows:

As the fiy wheel or driving section of the clutch 17 is continuouslyrevolved by any suitable means, at any predetermined uniform speed, thedriven section of the clutch 24 while in the neutral or non-pickingposition, is held away from the driving section 17 and against collar 25by the pressure of spring 26; while in this position lug 41 is heldagainst stop plate 40 by the torsion of spring 26, thus positivelypositioning the driven section 24 in the neutral position. When thedriven section 24 is in this neutral position, the timing section 28 isso held that the abutments 32 are midway between the annular abutments27, timing section 28 being held in this position, by the torsion ofspring 30 which holds timing section 28 so that the end of groove 31rests against stud 34 on timing section control 29. At this time timingsection control 29 is held in this neutral position by timer rod 14. Theposition of the timing mechanism and relevant parts, at this time, isshown in the left hand view of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2a.

In the conventional loom the lay 12 oscillates as shown in Fig. 4, thismovement is transmitted through lay shaft 13, rocker arm 38 andconnecting rod 37, to compression collar 36 causing collar 36 toreciprocate on shaft 18, this movement be ing continuous during loomoperation, alternately compressing and releasing spring 35. When thecollar 36 compresses spring 35, spring 35 forces timer control 29 andtiming section 28 to slide on shaft 18 in a direction toward the drivensection of the clutch 24. This movement of section 28 compresses spring30, spring 30 being lighter and more easily compressed than spring 35.As the timing section 28 when in the neutral position slides toward thedriven section 24, while the driven section 24 is in the neutralposition, Fig. 2a, the abutments 32 on section 28 move into the spacebetween the annular abutments 27 on driven section 24, thus causing nomovement of driven section 24 while in this position. When the movementof the lay causes collar 36 to release compression on spring 35, timerparts 28 and 29 are forced away from driven section 24 by the expansionof spring 30.

When it is desired to cause the mechanism to the conventional pickingcontrol of the loom such as shown, for example, in Knowlton et al, Pat.No. 306,250, October 7, 1884, moves timer rod 14 causing timer control29 to turn on shaft 18, this movement is transmitted to section 28 andagainst the torsion of spring 30, by stud 34 which bears against the endof groove 31.

This movement of the timer section around 1.1

shaft 18 brings the abutments 32 on section 28 so they will registerwith the annular abutments 27 and takes place when the lay 12 is in theposition shown by the dotted lines Fig. 4. This position of timersection being shown in Fig. 2b.

As the lay 12 moves to the position shown by the full lines, Fig. 4, itslides collar 36 along shaft 18 compressing spring 35 against timercontrol 29, which in turn forces abutments 32 on section 28 againstannular abutments 27. The pressure of .L'

abutments 32 against abutments 27 forces the driven section of theclutch 24 along shaft 18 and against the pressure of spring 26, intoengagement with the revolving or driven section of the clutch 17,thereby causing the driven section 24 to start to rotate. This rotationcauses picker strap 11 to wind on eccentric spring 39 producing a pullon strap 11 which actuates picker stick 10. This rotary movement ofdriven section 24 can be varied and continues until the segments ofannular abutments 2'? have passed out from under and out of registerwith abutments 32. This variation of the rotary movement or travel ofdriven section 24 is accomplished by turning central section 29 aroimdits axis as desired by any suitable means, 'j

section 24, a torsional stress is produced or built up in spring 26,said spring 26 being also under compression at all times. The abutments27 having passed from under and out of register with abutments 32, theabutments 32 on plate 28 are then forced into the spaces betweensegments of annular abutments 2'7, by pressure of spring 35 and thedriven section 24 is forced from engagement with the driving section 1'?by the expansion of spring 26. Disengaging the two parts of the clutchthe torsional resistance of spring 26 stops the rotation of drivensection 24 and returns it to its starting position, with the lug 41bearing against stop plate 40. During this return movement of clutchsection 24, annular abutments 27 bear against abutments 32 on plate 28and-cause plate 28 to turn with section 24; plate 28 being free to movein this manner as end of groove 31 moves away from stud 34, thusallowing section 24 to complete its return to starting position.

When in the cycle of the lay 12 it moves to the position shown by thedotted lines in Fig. 4, and releasing the pressure on spring 35 permitsplate 28 to be moved away from clutch section 24, by the expansion ofspring 30, the abutments 32 move out of the spaces between the segmentsof annular abutments 27. This movement frees plate 28 and abutrnents 32from contact with abutments 27 and permits the torsion of spring so toturn plate 28 until the end of groove 31 returns to contact with stud34. As long as the timer control 29 is held in the picking position itwill continue to pick, from this end, during each cycle of the lay, thepicking mechanism on the other end of loom, remaining in the opposite orneutral position. When the timing or pattern mechanism of the loomreverses the position of timing rod is it returns timer control 29 tothe neutral position and thereby places the timer control on theopposite end of loom in the picking position.

Strap 11 is securely fastened at one end to the picker stick 10 and atthe other end to spring 39 which is mounted on the driven section ofclutch 24 at the nearest practical point to the centre of rotation. Assection 24 starts to rotate it will cause strap 11 to wind on spring 39and pull on picker stick 10 and it is evident that an accelerating speedwill result, due to the fact that the winding face of spring 39 isformed with a constantly increasing radius.

Various changes and alterations might be made in the construction of thedevice without departing from the spirit or scope of the appendedclaims.

What we claim is:

1. In a picking mechanism for looms, having picker sticks at each endthereof, actuating mechanisms for each stick, including, as the drivingsection, a rotating mass, having means thereon or therein, for moving ordriving, a picking mechanism, said rotating mass comprising a fly wheel,having a driving section of a suitable clutch 1 thereon, and anabutting, mating, driven section,

of the clutch connected to and part of the driven section of the pickingmechanism.

2. In a picking mechanism for looms, having picker sticks at each endthereof, actuating mechj anisms for each stick, including as the drivingthereon, and an abutting, mating driven section,

or the clutch connected toand part of the driven section of the pickingmechanism, means for disengaging and forcing the sections of the clutchapart and for limiting the movement of the driven section of the clutcharound its axis.

3. In a picking mechanism for looms, having picker sticks at each endthereof, actuating mechanism for each stick, including, as the drivingsection, a rotating mass, having means thereon or therein, for moving ordriving, a picking mechanism, said rotating mass comprising a fly wheel,havin a driving section of a suitable clutch thereon, and an abutting,mating, driven section, of the clutch connected to and part of thedriven section of the picking mechanism, means for disengaging andforcing the sections of the clutch apart and for limiting the movementof the driven section of the clutch around its axis, said meanscomprising a helical spring, disposed between the driving and drivensections, of the clutch and subjected to both compression and torsion,by said driven section.

4. In a picking mechanism for looms, having picker sticks at each endthereof, actuating mechanisms for each stick, including, as the drivingsection, a rotating mass, having means thereon or therein, for moving ordriving, a picking mechanism, said rotating mass comprising a fly wheel,having a driving section of a suitable clutch thereon, and an abutting,mating, driven section, of the clutch connected to and part of thedriven section of the picking mechanisrn, means for disengaging orforcing the sections of the clutch apart and for limiting the movementof the driven section of the clutch around its said means comprising ahelical spring, disposed between the driving and driven sections, of theclutch and subjected to both compression and torsion, by said drivensection, means for imparting, to the picker stick, a movement ofaccelerating velocity, by connecting said picker stick with the drivensection of the clutch.

5. In a picking mechanism for looms, having icker sticks at each endthereof, actuating mechanisms for each stick, including, as the drivingsection, a rotating mass, having means thereon or therein, for moving ordriving a picking mechanism, said rotating mass comprising a fly wheel,having a driving section of a suitable clutch thereon and an abutting,mating, driven section, of the clutch connected to and part of thedriven section of the picking mechanism, means for disengaging orforcing the sections of the clutch apart and for limiting the movementof the driven section of the clutch around its axis, said meanscomprising a helical spring, disposed between the driving and drivensections, of the clutch and subjected to both compression and torsion,by said driven section, means for imparting, to the picker stick, amovement of accelerating velocity, by connecting said picker stick withthe driven section of the clutch, said means comprising a spring, ofapproximate rectangular cross section, securely fastened at one end, tothe driven section of the clutch and having thereon, means for attachingthereto a strap or other suitable medium, connected With the pickerstick, in such a manner that the rotation of the attached or drivensection of the clutch, will cause said strap, to wind on spring andactuate the picker stick.

6. Picking mechanism as described in claim 5, and including thereinmeans for controllably, engaging and disengaging, the driving and drivensections of the clutch.

7. Picking mechanism as described in claim 5, and including thereinmeans for controllably, engaging and disengaging, the driving and drivensections of the clutch, said means actuated and controlled by themechanism of the loom.

8. Picking mechanism as described in claim 5 and including therein meansfor controllably, engaging and disengaging, the driving and drivensections of the clutch, said means actuated and controlled by themechanism or" the loom, said loom mechanism comprising the lay mechanismas the actuating section and the pattern mechanism as the controllingsection.

9. Picking mechanism as described in claim 5 and including therein meansfor controllably, engaging and disengaging, the driving and drivensections of the clutch, said means actuated and controlled by themechanism of the loom, said loom mechanism comprising the lay mechanismas the actuating section and the pattern mechanism as the controllingsection, also including means whereby, suitable abutments on the drivensection of the clutch, register with abutments on the clutch controlmechanism, for controlled intermittent periods.

10. Picking mechanism as described in claim 5 and including thereinmeans for controllably, engaging and disengaging, the driving and drivensections of the clutch, said means actuated and controlled by themechanism of the loom, said loom mechanism comprising the lay mechanismas the actuating section and the pattern mechanism as the controllingsection, also including means whereby, suitable abutments on the drivensection of the clutch, register with abutments on the clutch controlmechanism, for controlled intermittent periods, and means wherebysuitable reciprocating movements are imparted to the clutch controlmechanism, by the lay mechanism of the loom.

11. In a picking mechanism for a loom having a picker stick, a massrotatable at a speed inde pendent of the loom cycle, and automatic meansfor operatively connecting said mass to and disconnecting it from saidpicker stick during the normal operation of the machine, said masshaving sufficient kinetic energy when rotating at normal speed tooperate said picker stick.

12. In a picking mechanism for looms having a picker stick, a massrotatable at a speed independent of the loom cycle, automatic means foroperatively connecting said mass to and disconnecting it from saidpicker stick during the normal operation of the machine, and timermechanism for controlling the connection of said mass to said pickerstick, said mass having sufficient kinetic energy when rotating atnormal speed to operate said picker stick.

13. In a picking mechanism for a loom having a picker stick, a massrotatable at a speed independent of the loom cycle, automatic means foroperatively connecting said mass to and disconnecting it from saidpicker stick during the normal operation of the machine, said masshaving sufficient kinetic energy when rotating at normal speed tooperate said picker stick and means for imparting an acceleratingmovement to said picker stick.

14. In a picking mechanism for looms having a picker stick, a massrotatable at a speed independent of the loom cycle, automatic means foroperatively connecting said mass to and disconnecting it from saidpicker stick during the normal operation of the machine, and means forcontrolling the duration of the operative connection, said mass havingsufiicient kinetic energy when rotating at normal speed to operate saidpicker stick.

15. In a loom, picking mechanism, lay mechanism, a mass rotatable at aspeed independent of the loom cycle, and automatic means under controlof the lay mechanism for operatively connecting said mass to anddisconnecting it from said picking mechanism, said mass havingsufiicient kinetic energy when rotating at normal speed to operate saidpicking mechanism.

WALTER BELL. HOWARD M. VAN ALSTYNE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. l,966,704. Juiy 17, 1934.

WALTER BELL, ET AL.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1,iine 8, strike out the comma and words aiso have used various" andinsert instead the period and word Various; line 9, strike out the commasecond oceurrence and insert "have also been used; iine 62, after"drawings" insert in which we have iliastrated a preferred embodiment ofour invention and; line 93, after "position" second oeenrrenee strikeout the period and insert a comma; and line 9d, for "These positions andtheir conneetion being" read as; page 2, line 2, before "a" insertpreierabiy; line 11, for in" read In; lines. 26-27, for "at each endthat said end projects" read that the ends thereof project; lines 44-45,for "oi approximate" read preterahiy oi approximateiy; and line 45,after "section insert a comma; line 119, for This" read this; page 3,line 12, after "26" insert a comma; page 3, iines 6i and 63, 71 and 73,84- and 36, 101 and 103, 121 and 123, claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5respectively, for "rotating" read rotatable; and that the said LettersEatent should be read with these corrections therein that the same mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent Office,

7 Signed and sealed this 11th day of September, A. D. 1934,

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

